Drinking Water Wells - Water Sampling

June 15, 2022 NEW RELEASE

New Drinking Water Health Advisories for PFAS Chemicals

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today released health advisory values for four PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): GenX, PFOA, PFOS and PFBS. Today’s EPA actions are based on the best available science and consider lifetime exposure to these PFAS compounds. The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) are moving quickly to evaluate the state’s drinking water supplies based on these health advisories and determine appropriate next steps to assess and reduce exposure risks. 

In step with the DEQ Action Strategy for PFAS, DEQ will prioritize actions to protect communities based upon the number of people impacted, concentration of PFAS in the drinking water, and the impacts to vulnerable and disadvantaged populations.

EPA News Release - Click Here

North Carolina Environmental Control News Release - Click Here

If you have additional health related questions, feel free to contact the DHHS Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch at 919-707-5900.

Forms

Applications (click to access the Accela Portal)

New drinking water wells, Well head inspection, Drinking water well sampling, well abandonment applications

Video instructions – if you just need help uploading documents or pay fees, go to minute marker 9:25

Well Permit Decision Tool (Click Here)

Managed by DEQ
This website can be used as a tool to verify if there are any known contaminants in your search area.

Environmental health specialists employed by the Cabarrus Health Alliance are responsible for enforcing the state’s requirements on private drinking water well construction referred to as the “2C rules” because they are found in Title 15A, Chapter 2C of the North Carolina Administrative Code which imposes standards on the construction, operation, maintenance, and abandonment of wells. This delegation of authority only pertains to “private drinking water wells,” which are defined as “any excavation that is cored, bored, drilled, jetted, dug, or otherwise constructed to obtain groundwater for human consumption” and that serves or is proposed to serve fourteen or fewer service connections or twenty-four or fewer individuals.

The term also includes any “well that supplies drinking water to a transient non-community water system as defined in 40 Code of Federal Regulations § 141.2 (July 1, 2003 Edition),” which encompasses wells at locations such as campgrounds and rest areas 

Services Offered

Well permits are issued to property owners that apply for a private drinking water well permit after a site evaluations are made to determine suitable areas for well placement. Grouting inspections will be made to determine sufficient amount of grout outside of the well casing. After approval of the well head and electrical power is connected to the pump each private drinking water well is tested for total coliform bacteria and if present, further tested analyzed for the presence of fecal coliform bacteria or E. coli. A water sample shall be analyzed for Arsenic, Barium, Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Fluoride, Lead, Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Mercury, Nitrate, Nitrite, Selenium, Silver, Sodium, Zinc and PH. All water samples are sent to the N.C. Public health Laboratory and all results are reported to the homeowner. Samples are taken only after proper disinfection and purging of the disinfectant (power on and well purged of disinfectant).

At the request of the owner, Environmental Health will inspect private water supplies, collect and interpret water samples, advise and assist on corrective action, and provide educational materials regarding location and protection of private water supplies.

Hours of Operation

8:00 am to 5:00 pm Weekdays

*water sampling is only done on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays 

Eligibility and Payment Options

Only property owners can request a water sample be taken. There are fees associated with well permits and all sampling. Please click here for fee schedule. Payment must be made before any sampling is done.

Contact Information

Please call Environmental Health at 704-920-1207.

Other Useful Information

Rules

Well Issues

Water Issues

Contaminants